[Associated psychotropic drugs in deficit schizophrenia]

Therapy with classical neuroleptics is not effective enough and its adverse effects are quite disabling, especially in chronic or negative schizophrenia; that is probably why adjunctive therapy is so common. Still conclusive evidence concerning the potential benefit of one or another therapeutic association is scarce. Intrinsic heterogeneity of schizophrenias and tremendous methodological problems constitute plausible explanations. Besides studies are usually realised among unselected patients. Available data about adjunctive therapy with anticholinergics, propranolol, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, lithium and carbamazepine are briefly reviewed here.